Marty_d

5 minutes ago, onetrack said:

What a ripper of an outstanding, clever, and daring attack! As good as some of Britains finest commando efforts during WW2. Now, all it needs is a drone attack on where Putin is sitting or flying, to ensure the head of the Russian snake is fully decapitated

Can they wait til he's meeting with his US puppet?

Far more beneficial for the world if both are removed together.

I think everything with wings and a beak is descended from a small number of dinosaur species.

Evolution has differentiated them into the massive and hugely successful avian world there is today. Mind-boggling when you consider the differences between a hummingbird and an emu or emperor penguin.

Well, it's happened.  I have seen the light.  I am a changed man, a convert, my eyes have been opened, and I see the error of my ways.

Before you have concerns about my mental health, this is not a religious experience.

But if I had been on the road to Damascus... it'd be astride a cruiser.

As someone who's only ridden sports / sports tourers (Honda VFR750 x 2, Triumph Speed Triple, Suzuki VF750F - but that was a high-revving piece of shit) - I've always had a vague contempt for cruisers.  You know, the standard stuff... they're too heavy, too slow, don't handle, can't corner, produce more noise than power, etc.

However, while age doesn't always bring wisdom, it usually brings an appreciation for comfort, and a lesser appetite for risk.  I'm not 20 anymore.  I don't want to do 250kph, tucked down over the tank, or take corners at double the signposted recommendation.

For a potted history of my riding, I started on a road/trail (Honda XL185) as my learner's bike at 18, moved to a VFR750 as soon as I had an open licence, and spent the next couple of decades (almost) riding the bikes listed above.  When I became a dad at 36, I did the "responsible" thing - sold my bike and packed away the bone-dome and leathers.

A while back @nomadpete said he was regretfully parting ways with his XV1100.  I'd been feeling the need to start riding again (mid life crisis?) and after mulling it over for way too long, I mentioned this to my missus.  To my surprise she fully supported me getting a bike, to the extent she told me to contact Peter there and then.  I did, but unfortunately he'd already sold his machine a month before.

A few days later however, this prince among men (still talking about Peter) messaged me with a Facebook ad for a Honda 750 Shadow.  I had a look at the bike, took it for a test ride (now that was bloody scary, 17 years since I'd been on a bike and a totally different style), thought about it for a couple of days then bought it.

She doesn't have a name yet (I was thinking of "H" names, like "Helen the Honda", but one of our neighbours is named Helen, so the phrase "I'm just off to ride Helen" might lead to some marital misunderstandings.) 

But she's 21 years old, all her chromework still looks great, and she sounds like a motorbike should.  She's also very comfortable and easy to ride.  

This evening I rode to karate.  While it was damn cold, it was a beautiful night and I really enjoyed the ride.  This being my 4th ride on the bike, I'm starting to get more comfortable with her - although it'll still take a few more rides until I'm ready to have my wife on the back seat.

So yes, I'm a cruiser convert.  Apologies to all the Harley riders I've thought bad things about. (Only thought, because some of them are scary!)

And yes, it's true.  Her suspension is made for comfort, not corners.  Around 80% of the engine output IS noise.  (Very nice noise!) And she's much more comfortable gently swaying around curves at 60km/h than doing 110 up the highway.

But now I think all those things are positive.

Here she is.  The photo doesn't do the colour justice - it's almost a candy apple red.

Knowing that a bunch of people are "devious scheming fuckers" doesn't necessarily mean Litespeed has "unmitigated hatred" for them. (Not trying to speak for you Litespeed!)

I agree with his depiction of them, and I don't hate them, just think they're wrong most of the time.

When it comes to Trump and his cronies, well THERE I have unmitigated hatred. Does that equate me with the MAGA morons?

The Maga movement is a far right cult. It's the modern equivalent of the Brownshirts in 1930s Germany.

The rest of the USA needs to wake up and fight this movement before it's too late. Their democracy is already fractured by this evil man and his followers. It will shatter completely if they don't stand up to it